We are now in the season of Advent, a time that is focussed on waiting with anticipation. We wait with anticipation for the return of Christ, we relive in our own lives the expectation of the birth of Christ and his birth in our own heart everyday. We wait with anticipation for the kingdom of God to be fulfilled on earth. Over the these four weeks the material will be shaped around four themes that are relevant to this time: promise, waiting, journey and gift.
In addition to the weekly resources have a look at the special Advent page for some ideas and resources on how to celebrate the season well in your home.
Weekly Inspiration
The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too.
~ Teresa Of Avila
Family Closeness
Game:
Alphabet Car Game
Since the theme this week is journey here is a game you can play next time you are in the car. It is a simple game that requires players to find all the letters of the alphabet in order, on car number plates. A letter on a number plate can only be claimed by one player, the first to call it out. Multiple letters on the one number plate can be claimed and by different players. For example if the number plate was ABE - someone could claim the AB and someone else the E. Whoever gets to Z first is the winner. Find some more travel games for the car at the bottom of the blog.
Sharing:
Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.
- What are the best and worst things about long journeys?
- What is your favourite thing to do on a journey?
- Where is your favourite place to journey to?
Story:
With your family read Luke 3.10-18
(for a way of explaining/talking about this reading with children look at
Questions for Discussion:
- What did John the Baptist tell people they must do to turn back to God?
- Who did the people think John the Baptist was?
- What did John say about the one who was to come?
Prayer and Celebration
A prayer for Advent
We thank you, Lord God, for the prophets and leaders who looked forward to the coming of Jesus the Saviour.
We thank you for those who prepared the way for him, like John the Baptist.
We thank you for the angels you sent with the message about Jesus.
and we thank you for Mary, who believed the message and was willing to do your will.
We thank you most of all for Jesus, who was born to save us.
In this Advent time, when we get ready for Christmas, help us to hear your message, to be excited that you want to be with us, and help us to an tto be part of your plan for this world you care so much about.
Amen.
Service
Here are some more Advent Service Ideas
- Get a group together to sing at a nursing home.
- Go through your cupboard and give some clothes to a charity.
- Encourage your children to think of what toys they have that are still in good condition that they might give to a charity.
- With your family choose a way to give a gift to a needy family. This may be best done through a registered charity or church. If you can make food donations take your children shopping to buy the food so they can actually see what it is they are giving. Some charities have schemes where people give gift-wrapped presents for children from needy families.
Family Time
Are trips in the car a nightmare? Why not turn them into a family adventure. Here are a few ideas.
Semi Search
All you need is a sheet of paper to keep score, one person to be scorekeeper and a writing utensil. Each player chooses a colour. Each player's name and chosen colour is then written down on the score card by the score keeper, who will announce when there is a winner. Each player announces each semitrailer on the road that is his chosen colour. One mark, or point, is given for each semi the person identifies as his colour. The game can be played until one person reaches a certain number of points. Most people play Semi Search until one person reaches 50 points, but a longer game can be played for older children.
Guess Mobile
Name someone as guess master. This person is the one who poses a guessing challenge for other family members. He or she could ask passengers to guess the colour of the next passing car, or how long before you get to the next town.
Car Scavenger Hunt
Give your children a pack of index cards and get them to write or draw pictures of fity things they might see on a long road trip. Keep the cards for scavenger hunts when players vie to match what they see with the cards.
Find more family car games at:
(This material is based on and draws from earlier Faithful Families emails by Stephen Harrison & Richard Browning: An Unless Ideas Production.) Unless otherwise noted all material on this blog is copyright Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning
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